Agenda

Tomoji Shogenji: Surprise, Inaccuracy and Explanation

Wanneer:

do 24-05-2018 15:15 - 17:00

Waar:

Room Alfa, Faculty of Philosophy

Lecture by Tomoji Shogenji (Rhode Island), organized by Grolog

This paper proposes a measure of explanatory demand formulated in terms of inaccuracy. The concept of explanation plays a significant role in epistemology and philosophy of science, but it is also known for controversies. In this paper I take a step back and investigate the notion of explanatory demand by way of surprise. The concept of surprise itself resists an easy analysis, but we have a better grip on it because surprise is part of our everyday life. The paper identifies unexpected inaccuracy as the reason for surprise, and...(continue reading...)

Luke Elson: Nihilistic Despair

Wanneer:

wo 30-05-2018 15:15 - 17:00

Waar:

Room Omega

Lecture by Luke Elson (University of Reading), organized by the Department of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy.

Many people think that forms of moral anti-realism (such as the error theory) are somehow depressing or sad. I sketch one account of what is sad about them, and argue that there need be no muddle or error in despairing at the supposed truth of nihilism.

Luke Elson is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Reading, UK. He works in ethics and metaethics. His papers have appeared in Ethics, Utilitas, and Theoria.

Konrad Werner: The Bucket Theory of Mind

Karl Popper famously criticized what he dubbed "the bucket theory of mind" (hereafter BTM), i.e. a conception holding, very roughly, that we can think of the mind as a container filled with materials (sense-data, ideas or pieces of information) delivered by the senses. Over the last twenty years or so many philosophers have joined Popper and set forth their own reasons for abandoning BTM. Most importantly, these were people associated with the movement called enactive and embodied cognition, championed by F. Varela, his collaborators, and followers. However, I argue that...(continue reading...)

Conference: Substance in Early Modern Scholasticism

Wanneer:

ma 04-06-2018

Waar:

Room Gamma

Two-days conference (4-5 June 2018), organized by the Department of the History of Philosophy

Sabina Leonelli: Five ways in which big data can destroy science (and what to do about it)

Wanneer:

wo 06-06-2018 15:15 - 17:00

Waar:

room Omega

Colloquium lecture by Sabina Leonelli (Exeter), organized by the Department of Theoretical Philosophy

In many areas of science increasingly powerful technologies allow researchers to generate a whole lot of data, which are then disseminated via digital databases. Having heaps of data available online sounds great, but it raises real problems. How are we to explore and make sense of this enormous quantity of data? Philosophers have had a lot to say about how we can make robust inferences by triangulating between multiple lines of evidence, and how we handle data in order to yield meaningful and reliable knowledge. I will draw on this literature to examine the conditions under which big data should be aggregated and interpreted. I then discuss the ways in which big data misuse could significantly damage the credibility and trustworthiness of scientific research as a whole.

Aidan Lyon: What is Psychedelic Experience?

Wanneer:

do 14-06-2018 15:15 - 17:00

Waar:

Faculty of Philosophy, room Omega

Colloquium lecture by Aidan Lyon (University of Maryland), organized by the Department of Theoretical Philosophy

Recently, there has been an explosion of scientific research into the effects of psychedelic substances. Initial results indicate that psychedelic experiences can treat psychological problems such as depression, PTSD, and drug addiction. Initial results also seem to be shedding new light on the structure of the mind and the functional structure of the brain. For example, a common phenomenological component of psychedelic experience is the dissolution of the ego, and recent research suggests that this correlates with a reduction in the orthogonality of the default mode network and the task positive networks. The concept of psychedelic experience has thus now made its way out from the wild 60’s counterculture and into serious contemporary scientific research. This research is also leading to the development of new theories. For example, it has lead some researchers to develop the theory that different conscious states correspond to brain states with different levels of entropy and that psychedelic experiences correspond to brain states with higher-than-usual entropy. Like any concept that has recently transitioned from folk theorising to scientific theorising, the concept of psychedelic experience needs to be examined carefully. In this talk, I’ll do this by raising the question "what is psychedelic experience?” and developing an answer to it.

Formal Epistemology: What are the rules of the game and why bother playing it?

Formal epistemology is a growing area of research. Some errors are still being made though, because people are not clear enough about the methodology at play. In this talk, I will sketch a view of what I think method in formal epistemology is.

Miranda Fricker: Ambivalence About Forgiveness

Wanneer:

wo 27-06-2018 15:15 - 17:00

Waar:

Room Omega

Colloquium lecture by Miranda Fricker (CUNY Graduate Center), organized by the Department of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

Our ideas about forgiveness seem to oscillate between idealization and scepticism. One might think this simply indicates disagreement, or indecision, but I suspect not. I see these different attitudes as representing opposing moments of a collective moral ambivalence about forgiveness that is well grounded, and I aim to show that there is a philosophical angle on forgiveness capable of vindicating both of our opposing perspectives simultaneously. Once we are correctly positioned, we shall see...(continue reading...)

Summer School: The Challenge of Natural Teleology

Vanaf:

di 03-07-2018

Tot en met:

vr 06-07-2018

Waar:

Faculty of Philosophy, rooms TBA

All along its history, the reflection on the ontological status and the explanatory role of final causes affected several domains such as metaphysics, theology, psychology, philosophy of language and evolution theory. This summer school focuses on some of the major turning points in the history of this controversy that challenged philosophers, scientists and theologians from antiquity to today’s debates. View all course information, target group, programme and application procedure Deadline for registration is 1 June. Coordinators: are Andrea Sangiacomo and Han Thomas Adriaenssen.

History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) congress

Vanaf:

ma 09-07-2018

Tot en met:

do 12-07-2018

Waar:

Harmony Building, rooms TBA

The International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) will hold its twelfth international congress in Groningen, the Netherlands. The conference is open to scholarly work on the history of philosophy of science from any disciplinary perspective. Please view the congress website for all details and updates

Summer School: Critical Theory in Philosophy

Vanaf:

ma 23-07-2018

Tot en met:

vr 27-07-2018

Waar:

Faculty of Philosophy, room TBA

This summer school will cover central philosophical themes addressed by the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. Frankfurt School Critical Theory is a branch of social and cultural philosophy that has a longstanding and prominent reputation in engaging with social critique and reflection on sources of societal resilience. Our focus will lie on its classic texts as well as a selection of work by its leading present-day representatives. View all course information, target group, programme and application procedure Deadline for application is 15 April. Coordinators are: Titus Stahl and Judith Vega

Ralph Wedgwood

Colloquium lecture organized by the Department of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

Title & abstract TBA

Ingrid Robeyns: Is Procreation Special?

Wanneer:

wo 21-11-2018 15:15 - 17:00

Waar:

Room Omega

Colloquium lecture by Ingrid Robeyns (Utrecht), organized by the Department of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

According to the moral equivalence thesis, overconsumption and procreation are morally equivalent: there is no morally relevant difference between the use of environmental resources for consumption or for procreation. This paper develops two critiques against the moral equivalence thesis: a capabilitarian argument, and an argument based on human self-understanding. Existing analyses of the moral equivalence thesis have, implicitly or explicitly, started from a version of equality of resources.I first show that...(continue reading...)